Episodes
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Robin Harrison and Ed Birkin return after iGB L!VE to share some interesting numbers on the World Cup and Europe, starting with a Dutch gambling tax hike that has missed its target by some distance. From there, the pair also cover the latest updates on Ireland's new licensing regime.
Prediction market activity during the World CupH2 has been tracking prediction market activity throughout the tournament. By volume, DR Congo was the most backed country not to win the World Cup, while France, Spain and Portugal led the standings for teams most backed to win.
There was also a very interesting finding in terms of the matches with the highest losing trades. Tune in to find out what the matches are. You will be surprised by their commonality, which in fact favours traditional sportsbooks the most. Yet, prediction markets appear to have been caught out by them this time.
Dutch gambling tax hike reality checkThe Netherlands raised its gambling tax in two phases, from 30.5% to 34.2% in January 2025 and then to 37.8% in January 2026. The Dutch Treasury predicted these hikes would generate an additional €108 million in 2025 and €216 million in 2026.
The actual numbers came in far lower: just €2 million extra in 2025, with 2026 estimated at €57 million. Ed is careful to note it is not just the tax rate to blame. New deposit limits, advertising curbs and the fading of the post-Euro 2024 revenue spike all played a role in shrinking the taxable base.
What is harder to ignore is the impact on land-based venues, with casino and gaming hall visits down around 11% year on year and several operators citing the tax hike as a factor in closures. The pair hint that tax hikes do not always work as governments expect, and the UK should take note.
While in Europe, the pair also discuss the new licensing regime under GRAI in Ireland, which took effect on 1 July. Currently 89% of online betting is onshore but only 35% of the total market, because all iGaming remains offshore and unregulated.
Platform providers like Pragmatic Solutions have already gone live to support operators through the transition. Check out the episode to find out H2's estimates of what the market could be worth as regulation extends further.
iGB L!VE highlight: Africa SummitRobin's highlight from the show was the Africa Summit, which brought together regulators from across the continent, including Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya, alongside industry bodies such as the African Tax Administration Forum.
The event coincided with a high-level session hosted by the African iGaming Alliance, where regulators discussed sustainable taxation, channelisation and player protection, and helped advance plans for a continent-wide Africa Safer Gambling Week.
Ed, who moderated a tax panel at the summit, raises a pointed question before signing off: if operators in some markets quietly absorb or avoid punitive tax rates, can the industry still credibly argue against high taxation elsewhere?
Check out the full Right to the Source series for data and insights.
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Right to the Source welcomes its first guest in a while this week. Dan Phillips, CEO and Founder of NEL Advisory, joins Robin Harrison and Ed Birkin ahead of iGB L!VE to discuss product innovation and the recurrent grey market.
Product innovation: evolution or illusion?Before diving into the industry talk, Dan shares what it was like starting out as a dealer at a basement casino in Soho in 1996. Thirty years on, he brings a seasoned perspective to one of the episode's central questions: has the industry actually innovated?
Ed thinks not. Bet builders are just multiples repackaged, prediction markets are regulatory arbitrage, and live casino has been around forever. Robin argues that real innovation is iterative problem-solving rather than headline-grabbing product launches.
Dan lands somewhere in the middle: the industry is better at merging concepts than creating new ones. You cannot uninvent something, so the only sensible move is to embrace it.
Where all three find common ground is on AI. Dan's view is that its real value lies in true personalisation, not in Amazon-style recommendations. Ed agrees the potential is there, having watched the industry talk about personalisation for 15 years without delivering it.
The grey market debateDo operators that built their businesses in unregulated markets deserve credit for eventually going legit? Ed, Robin and Dan all land in different places on this one. Tune in to find out where each of them stands, and the hint is that nobody fully agrees.
Getting ready for iGB L!VEWhat is Open Space?As part of iGB Executive, the Open Space session at iGB L!VE brings operators, suppliers and product leaders into the same room for something deliberately different from a standard panel.
Taking place on Wednesday, 1 July, from 2:30pm to 4:00pm in the South Galleries at ExCeL London, the format is audience-led and runs under Chatham House rules - meaning no recording, no report, just open conversation.
Dan will be facilitating, moving between breakout tables and prodding the debate where needed. Around 70 people have signed up, and when asked in advance what they wanted to discuss, 36% said AI, 12% customer engagement and retention and 11% payments.
The session will also feature live voting and open idea sharing. As Dan puts it, the point is to have conversations that simply do not happen on panels.
Where to find your RTTS hostsEd will be on the taxation and channelisation panel at 2:00pm on Wednesday 1 July as part of the Africa Summit, and on the prediction markets and World Cup panel at 2:00pm on Thursday 2 July.
Robin will be hosting a fireside chat at the Startup Accelerator on 30 June and MCing the Africa Summit on 1 July. If you see any of them, do go and say hello.
If you want to revisit any previous episodes before the show, the full Right to the Source series is right here. See you at the show!
Chapters(00:00:10) - Lewis and Clark(00:01:27) - Guests On The Podcast(00:02:36) - Dan Phillips on the Gambling Industry(00:03:30) - How to Get Out Of The Gambling Industry(00:08:23) - Coral's CEO on product innovation(00:09:34) - On Innovation in the Casino Industry(00:14:52) - Robin Quirk on IGB Live(00:16:19) - Robin Williams on Open Space(00:22:32) - Will AI Take Over the Slot Industry?(00:30:04) - Amazon Prime Film Review: Balls Up(00:30:52) - Mark Wahlberg on His Classics(00:32:38) - Mark Wahlberg on His Guest(00:33:42) - Have We Discovered a Regulated Market?(00:38:18) - Black Market and the Fair Play(00:45:10) - Mark Wahlberg On His Best 3 Movies(00:47:10) - IGB Live: Africa Panel and More -
Missing episodes?
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With the World Cup already underway, Robin Harrison and Ed Birkin are back with a data-packed episode covering H2's betting estimates for the tournament, the UAE's new regulatory CEO and what Finland's market opening really looks like in numbers.
The big numbers behind World Cup bettingH2 Gambling Capital estimates $60 billion will be wagered through legal sportsbooks globally at this year's World Cup, which is a 71% increase on the 2022 tournament.
Among the three host nations, the US leads with $2.9 billion while Mexico is close behind at $2.5 billion. Tune in to find out what H2 estimates for a football-mad nation like Brazil.
In addition, Ed notes that operators should treat the World Cup as a customer acquisition opportunity rather than a pure revenue play. With 104 matches, up from 64 in 2022, margin uncertainty on results makes the revenue picture harder to call.
Cautiously positive in both the UAE and Finland?As Robin reported, the GCGRA has appointed Ciarán Carruthers as its new CEO, replacing Kevin Mullally, who left in November last year. Carruthers brings significant Asian gaming experience from Galaxy, Sands China and Wynn Macau. Most recently, he steered Crown Resorts through its AML and responsible gambling remediation in Australia.
Robin finds the appointment genuinely compelling in view of the pro-industry approach and real scope for land-based growth. Ed is more sceptical, arguing that the UAE online market will be largely irrelevant to most of the industry. Listen in to hear where they land.
In Finland, the number of companies which have applied for licences ahead of the market opening is far too many, according to the pair.
H2 estimates the licensed online market will reach $1.4 to $1.5 billion by 2028, up from $275 million now. Yet Ed raises questions about the "bad actor" provisions and what happens to operators currently targeting the market.
Ed closes with a pointed observation on the European Commission levy proposal: Is this what happens when AI-scraped data finds its way into policy?
Check out the full Right to the Source series for more iGaming insights.
Chapters(00:00:10) - The Yogi Bear(00:01:08) - Alex Pratt on Podcasts(00:06:58) - How much will the World Cup Betting be?(00:12:37) - Brazil Sports Betting(00:14:53) - UAE Gambling Regulator's new CEO(00:20:11) - vs the online marine industry(00:21:59) - Finnish regulator: 50 companies have now applied for licenses(00:26:25) - Sausage in New Zealand(00:30:50) - 99 Red Balloons(00:32:51) - Just Data, especially being used for policy(00:34:31) - Yogi Bear and Boo Boo -
Ed Birkin and Robin Harrison are back with a round-the-world showcase in this episode, taking in three of the biggest stories in the industry: a market reshuffle in Mexico, Austria's long-awaited monopoly shake-up and the implications of the Caesars acquisition.
Mexico's gambling market at a crossroadsAs the second biggest LatAm market after Brazil, Mexico has grown at a fast pace, and 80% of the market is onshore. However, a new 50% GGR tax rate and the licence revocation of Bet365 and Betano's licensing partner may now disrupt that growth.
H2 estimates Mexico's World Cup co-hosting role could generate around $2.5 billion in extra sportsbook turnover. Whether that offsets the drag from the tax hike remains to be seen.
Austria iGaming: ending monopolies becoming the trend?Austria's Ministry of Finance has leaked a draft bill to end Win2day's decades-long online gambling monopoly and open the market to multiple operators for the first time. As Imogen Goodman reports, the Finance Ministry itself acknowledges the monopoly model has become increasingly difficult to enforce in the digital age. The reform could deliver a significant fiscal windfall, especially as Austria faces pressure to reduce its budget deficit.
The pair welcome the direction of travel but raise serious concerns about what is on the table, for example, deposit limits of €250 per week for under-26s, a €2 maximum stake per spin and back taxes owed on outstanding Austrian court rulings.
Ed's early verdict is clear: with restrictions like these, the channelisation rate could end up closer to that of the Netherlands than anyone would like. As the Dutch channelisation slipped below 50% in the first half of 2025 due to strict deposit limits, Austria has been warned.
What does it mean for the Caesars acquisition?As iGB reported, Tilman Fertitta recently agreed a $5.7 billion deal to acquire Caesars Entertainment. Ed's key point is that the Caesars digital business is strategically valuable not just as a revenue line but also as a player data tool for cross-selling to land-based properties. Spinning it off risks destroying that value entirely. Tune in to hear the pair's full verdict.
Finally, we want to thank everyone who has been listening and getting in touch. Every message means more than you think.
Check out the full Right to the Source series for more iGaming insights.
Chapters(00:00:00) - Ren and Stimpy(00:02:17) - Correction: Emaciated Is Not Egregiated(00:03:15) - Celtic vs Hearts(00:05:19) - Sports Talk(00:08:35) - Mexico(00:15:28) - Gambling regulation in Mexico, Spain(00:17:11) - Austria to liberalize online gambling(00:21:45) - What Is The Age You Can Change Your Name in the UK?(00:23:12) - Austria's gambling restrictions(00:28:25) - People Talk About Caesar Salad(00:29:30) - Norway's online casino scandal(00:31:44) - Caesars Entertainment spin-off: EWTN interview(00:35:24) - Ren and Stimpy: Who Knows That? -
Ed Birkin and Robin Harrison walk us through some of the key industry topics in the latest episode of Right to the Source. The UK takes centre stage, with a detour around the world for good measure.
The prize draw opportunity and the RTP debateThe pair touch on Portugal's new centralised self-exclusion system and Australia's gambling ad reforms before Robin introduces something genuinely new to the series: the UK prize draw market.
According to Robin, 44% of operators were incorporated after 2020. At £1.3 billion in annual player spend and 7.4 million active players, it is a young and largely unregulated sector operating outside Gambling Commission oversight.
As Nicole Macedo recently reported, with 88% of prize draw participants also engaging in commercial gambling, the cross-sell opportunity is hard to ignore. However, Ed is sceptical that it is a meaningful opportunity for real-money gaming operators, as he thinks the targeted players for prize draws are different.
On the other hand, the remote gaming duty hike in the UK is pushing operators to lower slot RTPs. Both Ed and Robin land on the same conclusion: it is probably a bad thing for operators and players alike.
Ed draws on a conversation from the Big Daddy Gaming episode earlier in the year. Operators have spent years calibrating RTP to an optimal level. If it were simply a case of cutting it to make more money, they would have done it already.
Ed's bigger concern, though, is what this means for the industry's credibility. If the market keeps growing despite the tax hike, the government will simply conclude the industry was crying wolf.
Beyond the UK: prediction markets and SportradarThere are a few stories to keep the prediction market lively. The pair cover some recent developments regarding Brazil, the NCAA and DraftKings. Check out the prediction market roundup from iGB to keep up with the latest developments.
The episode finishes with the Sportradar short-selling report. Ed raises a pointed question about whether commercial data providers should also serve as integrity monitors. Tune in to hear Ed's verdict!
Chapters(00:00:10) - Ed Birkin(00:03:12) - Sports Betting in Brazil(00:09:01) - Australia gambling ad reforms(00:14:07) - Vikehouse's fight for a monopoly in Finland(00:16:28) - The prize draw market in the UK(00:18:04) - Omaze's Adverts(00:18:39) - Prize draws(00:24:49) - RTP(00:31:14) - Will the RTP increase the attractiveness of slots on the illegal market(00:34:57) - Meta Adblocking Illegal Gambling(00:39:45) - Big Picture: Short Selling, Sport Radar, -
Ed Birkin and Robin Harrison covered a few key industry topics this week, taking a closer look at the recent ECJ development and the March Madness betting market.
The pair begin with the recent ECJ opinion around German player-loss cases, which they suggest offers limited clarity for the wider industry. The opinion appears to support the right of member states to enforce local gambling licensing regimes, as long as those rules comply with EU law. However, it still leaves the biggest questions unanswered.
March Madness and the real size of the betting marketAccording to Ed, March Madness is the single most-bet tournament in the world. H2 estimates that the legal US sportsbook handle for the men’s and women’s tournaments combined will reach $4 billion, up from $3.7 billion last year.
In addition, Ed estimates prediction markets could generate around $1.6 billion in volume on the tournament, which he translates to roughly $530 million in handle equivalent. The amount directly competing with regulated sportsbooks in states where sports betting is already legal is much smaller, at around $135 million to $150 million.
Are prediction markets being overstated?From the discussion, prediction markets are far from the only factor that could affect sportsbook performance. Other pressures, such as promotional pullbacks, macroeconomic headwinds and shifting consumer behaviour, may have a greater impact on handle.
The pair conclude by widening the discussion around prediction markets more broadly. Robin points to recent developments in places such as Brazil, Argentina and the Netherlands, while Ed remains firmly sceptical about their long-term prospects.
Chapters(00:00:00) - Chris Rock: The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air(00:04:21) - Uncle Phil on the Podcast(00:05:31) - Europe Court of Justice(00:07:16) - European court case on betting losses(00:13:13) - Unlicensed Betting in Malta(00:16:49) - Nothing but an empty shell(00:17:38) - March Madness(00:20:51) - March Madness: Will it affect sports books?(00:25:38) - What's driving down sports bet handle?(00:30:39) - Governor of Utah on Political Correctness(00:36:02) - Kings Casino: Overhyped, but that's OK(00:40:04) - John Terry's NFTs(00:43:02) - Snoop Dogg Bought His NFT -
Right to the Source returns this week with Ed Birkin and Robin Harrison taking a closer look at the latest Las Vegas gaming revenue figures, alongside the usual mix of sports trivia and off-script debate.
While headline numbers suggest a dip in performance, Birkin argues the reality is more nuanced. January revenue is down year-on-year, but much of this decline can be attributed to the unusually high hold in baccarat and pai gow during the previous period.
With that removed, underlying performance in core segments such as gaming machines and table games remains relatively stable. Nevada gaming revenue is still above pre-Covid levels and broadly flat year-on-year, rather than in any meaningful decline.
Chapters(00:00:12) - Right to the Source(00:01:43) - Let's break football records this season(00:05:41) - Aberdeen salvage a point against Rangers(00:07:15) - Vegas: Is It Terrible?(00:08:45) - President Trump on Las Vegas' Decline(00:11:18) - Wonders of Las Vegas: Visitations down, but not(00:15:36) - Nevada visitation(00:22:34) - Right to the Source: The End of World War 3 -
After an extended break Right to the Source is back, with Ed Birkin and Robin Harrison speculating on Norsk Tipping losing its monopoly in the wake of a lottery scandal.
With over 15,000 players joining a suit in the wake of a litany of technical errors, which meant chances of winnings were distorted for some players, while others were told they had won far larger sums. The errors went undetected for almost a decade.
Could this be an echo of Veikkaus’ struggles in Finland, where advertising violations brought scrutiny and impacted public trust? That may well have contributed to the Finnish re-regulation, and as of 2027, the opening of a liberalised market. Norway has been resolutely against calls to end Norsk Tipping’s monopoly, but could this scandal force the issue?
Ed also finds time to rant about prediction markets, insult Northerners and call Star Wars rubbish.
Chapters(00:00:15) - Samuel L. Jackson Is The Highest Grossing Actor Of All(00:04:14) - Prediction Markets(00:08:43) - Sports Betting(00:10:37) - Prediction Markets: Just a Slot Machine(00:16:16) - Sports Betting: Hype, no substance(00:17:59) - Norway: 15,000 Lotteries Players Sue the Competition(00:23:53) - Does issues with the lottery automatically feed through to the betting market?(00:26:57) - Are You Being Radicalized By Social Media?(00:27:38) - Germany's regulated gaming market(00:28:37) - Germany: The highest number of brands in the UK -
Right to the Source returns with its first episode of 2026, and this week Ed Birkin and Robin Harrison are joined by Erland Hellström and Simon Hammon of slot disruptor Big Daddy Gaming.
Hellström is a veteran of Evolution and Hammon’s slot heritage stretches back to NetEnt’s Starburst, so there’s some serious muscle behind Big Daddy Gaming, but how are they going to build something that can disrupt an established order in a busy market?
Chapters(00:00:15) - Robin Harrison on Banksy(00:02:57) - No gambling on the IGB podcast(00:04:00) - Warm Welcome to Big Daddy Gaming(00:04:36) - Big Daddy Gaming Interview(00:08:00) - Big Daddy Reboot: The(00:10:51) - What is the Big Daddy(00:12:54) - Irish CEO on the country's gaming landscape(00:14:07) - Simon Mansion on Online Casinos(00:16:12) - Slot Machine: AI vs Quality(00:19:27) - Irish slot tax debate, RTP(00:24:56) - Slots: Should Content Suppliers Be Held Responsible for(00:27:53) - How Much Visibility Do Game Developers Have Over Where Their Games Go(00:29:30) - Direct-to-Consumer, Aggregation(00:31:03) - Introducing Big Daddy's Slot(00:36:03) - Starburst(00:37:08) - What is the formula for a Top Title?(00:38:09) - Simon Erlen and John Hodgson on Right to the Source -
Right to the Source made its comeback in April this year and 28 episodes in, we’re winding down for the holidays. But not before we decide who has been naughty and nice.
Yes, this festive special recaps 2025, picking out the overarching themes whether that’s the rise of prediction markets, the rise of taxes, or the fall of regulated market share in the Netherlands.
There’s also a quiz to test how much Ed Birkin actually knows about H2 Gambling Capital’s data, and whether Robin Harrison reads the iGamingBusiness.com site every day.
A huge thanks to all our listeners for tolerating us in 2025, and we’ll be back in the new year!
Chapters(00:00:14) - The Most Used Phrase In The Podcast This Year(00:03:40) - Will More States liberalize casino gambling?(00:04:03) - Idaho Business Podcast(00:07:52) - Crypto's March to Legitimation(00:08:55) - Pintasia Salary Survey(00:11:11) - 2017: Key developments and themes for the year(00:15:17) - Top 10 gambling themes of 2017(00:17:21) - The Host of This(00:17:46) - Quizzes(00:18:22) - 735 downloaded from H2 database in the past week(00:19:34) - iGaming Business's Best Article of 2025(00:22:00) - Oceania's contribution to global gambling(00:22:58) - Igaming Business: Brazil's Tag Posts in 2025(00:24:33) - What market share did Sporting Bet have in Brazil in 2025?(00:26:49) - How much unlicensed GGR in Brazil?(00:28:22) - Santa's List(00:29:46) - Christmas Eve: The Nice List -
It’s taken us a long time to get it live but Right to the Source’s lost episodes from G2E are slowly being uncovered, starting with the Plaza Hotel and Casino CEO Jonathan Jossel who talks Downtown, revitalising Vegas and Big John.
Chapters(00:00:06) - The Weak Member of the Jewish Family(00:00:48) - Interview With Jonathan(00:01:00) - Interview(00:01:37) - The 29-year-old CEO of Las Vegas' oldest casino(00:03:45) - The Plaza Hotel's transformation(00:06:35) - President Trump on Las Vegas' economy(00:11:25) - Questions for the Plaza's Customers(00:12:24) - The Love Letter I Had For Big John(00:15:25) - Las Vegas Business Talk: Downtown -
Right to the Source returns with the three New York downstate casino licences seemingly destined for Queens and the Bronx, a deep dive into Monarch Casino & Resort, while Ed Birkin lives out the film Her with ChatGPT.
Chapters(00:00:15) - Robin Harrison on The Muppets Christmas Carol(00:00:58) - Story of the Week(00:02:09) - Q&A(00:07:29) - The Jacksonville Jaguars' chances of making the NFL playoffs(00:11:34) - Pundits predict Sheffield Wednesday's relegation(00:12:22) - Monarch Casino: Does It Need a Hero?(00:14:36) - Talking about the Las Vegas and Reno revenues(00:15:22) - How Big Is the US Casino Market?(00:19:16) - My Dog's 'Persona'(00:20:04) - Talking To My Chat GPT Assistant(00:21:59) - Monarch Casino: Potentially Saved?(00:22:30) - Child's questions about Switzerland(00:26:07) - Talking Lottery in Switzerland(00:26:54) - Podcast -
Everyone’s had their say on last week’s Budget in the UK, which heralds a hike in remote gaming duty to 40% next year, and an increase in remote betting duty to 25% of GGR from 2027. But is it going to push all gambling activity offshore, and will it yield £1.1 billion in new tax revenue as the Office for Budget Responsibility claims? Ed Birkin is not so sure.
Chapters(00:00:15) - Robin Hood(00:01:33) - UK Budget Special(00:03:25) - UK budget: Will the onshore market shrink?(00:09:57) - The Tax on Gambling Advertising(00:11:10) - Gambling Commission budget: Should it be cut?(00:13:18) - OBR: The UK's public finances(00:22:14) - Wales gambling tax: Doomsday scenarios are too optimistic?(00:25:56) - Steve Monash on the black market(00:30:08) - Brexit and the UK oil and gas industry(00:31:49) - Good Marketing and Terrible Gambling Adverts(00:33:48) - Robin's Happy Ending -
Right to the Source is getting existential as developments in the US prompt discussions on grey market gambling - and whether it's all just illegal - before a deep dive into gambling in Argentina.
Chapters(00:00:00) - Robin Harrison on Bebop From Rocksteady(00:01:39) - Turkey's gambling crackdown(00:04:37) - DraftKings, FanDuel to Give Up Their Nevada License for(00:11:43) - Hard Rock's Sports Casino Plan(00:16:59) - "It's a funny old time for gambling"(00:18:31) - Argentina: Bet365 and the grey market(00:21:34) - Are there gray markets in the gambling industry?(00:25:47) - Black Market and grey market(00:28:01) - Argentina: Big Gaming Machine Market(00:32:59) - Random country generator(00:33:32) - Monarch Casino(00:34:29) - Monarch Casino: How many slot machines do they have? -
Right to the Source is back and it’s bouncing around the world, as Ed Birkin sizes up the UAE online gambling market, Robin Harrison talks up Allwyn taking full control of OPAP and prediction markets bring up memories of pie-eating 'keeper Wayne Shaw.
Chapters(00:00:14) - Interviewing The Olsen Twins(00:03:48) - UAE gaming licence announcement(00:06:16) - Online gaming in the UAE(00:09:04) - The Most Expensive Pair Of Leather Trousers(00:11:34) - Liverpool chairman reads out his statement on Frank Lampard's dismissal(00:13:34) - Europa vs Malta: Cross-border Gambling(00:17:36) - Coinbase CEO's statement on market manipulation is appalling(00:20:26) - The Maximal Issue With Prediction Markets(00:24:40) - Opinion Poll(00:26:14) - Uganda's tax on e-commerce(00:27:07) - M&A: OPAP vs Alwyn Investment(00:32:21) - In the Elevator With the Olsen Twins(00:32:53) - Lottery Group Q2 2018 earnings release(00:36:03) - FDJ's Online Lottery(00:37:42) - French digital spend in France(00:38:24) - Random country generator(00:39:12) - Fashion Week(00:40:13) - The Most Famous People Started Out In Kids TV(00:41:58) - Selena Gomez AND Miley Cyrus -
Right to the Source always threatens to bring on more guests and today we welcome Khalid Ali of the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), and dissect Banijay’s acquisition of Tipico.
Chapters(00:00:00) - Right to the Source(00:04:26) - Podcasts on YouTube(00:05:55) - Crypto Seems Safe, But Doxing People?(00:07:04) - impressive how Winamax is totally under your radar(00:09:31) - Anticipation Over The Typico-Typico Deal(00:14:17) - Bett365 vs. Racecourse(00:18:27) - milo on Bet365 and Monetar(00:19:31) - How many guests have we had on the show?(00:20:10) - Khaled on Right to the Source(00:20:54) - IBEA's Sports Betting Integrity Rebrand(00:27:41) - The International Betting Integrity Association's Mission 2030(00:32:23) - SESCA's role in data and esports(00:34:26) - WG1: Collaboration with Institutions(00:38:48) - Hearts vs Celtic(00:41:44) - IBA Sports Wagering Advocacy(00:46:59) - Visit Our Website(00:47:34) - Podcast Research Society(00:48:07) - The Peaky Blinders Takeover(00:52:20) - Peaky Blinders -
Right to the Source is back after a break for G2E, and it’s diving into all the week’s past controversies, whether that’s NBA gambling scandals or a set-to between Evolution and Playtech. Oh, and Sheffield Wednesday were placed in administration.
Chapters(00:00:13) - Right To The Source(00:01:16) - The Owls are in administration(00:02:48) - NBA arrests linked to sports betting(00:08:38) - Playtech vs Evolution: What's Wrong With Calling Out Bad Things(00:14:08) - "It's Impossible for Suppliers to Be Part of a(00:20:30) - Ways of regulating gambling in the UK and Brazil(00:27:43) - The Guinness Zero Adverts(00:31:16) - Pod Topics: Non-Alcohol Beers(00:31:59) - The Random Country Generator(00:32:20) - KSA: Channelization to Onshore(00:32:46) - Basic information about Mauritius, Uganda and Nauru(00:35:02) - Podcasters: Listenership Numbers(00:36:29) - Right to the Source: Uganda and OPAP -
Right to the Source tackles crypto pivots, a tale of two resorts in Singapore and Golden Matrix’s B2C shift.
Ed Birkin and Robin Harrison have a frank exchange of views on Yolo Group’s regulated market pivot to kick off. This hinges on whether the move gives the crytpo giant an unfair advantage thanks to its scale and revenue, or simply follows an ongoing industry cycle.
We then discuss the contrasting fortunes of Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, then Golden Matrix becoming a B2C business through its acquisition of Meridianbet.
Chapters(00:00:00) - Beavis and Butthead(00:01:21) - Football(00:04:51) - On YOLO Group's Plan to Shift From Crypto to a(00:11:45) - Black Operators(00:14:49) - Sands vs Genting: Singapore(00:16:26) - Sands vs Genting: Singapore's gaming market(00:18:50) - Singapore sports betting monopoly(00:22:34) - Meridian Bet: An Interesting One(00:26:56) - Right to the Source -
Right to the Source is back with Ed Birkin beaming in live from Lisbon, and social casino pioneer Zynga, the Congo and Mauritius are up for discussion.
Chapters(00:00:13) - Right to the Source(00:01:20) - Celtic vs Sheffield Wednesday(00:05:18) - Long Couples and Fishermen(00:06:42) - Wonders of the World: Dave Reebuck on(00:09:07) - Social Casino: The parallels with Zynga(00:13:48) - Social Casino and Zynga(00:18:41) - Are Social Casinos Attempting to Pass Legislation?(00:20:36) - In the Elevator With Pierre(00:21:20) - Taxonomy: Africa(00:26:47) - How does gambling tax differ in Mauritius?(00:30:05) - Random country generator(00:33:25) - Write To The Source -
Right to the Source is back and this week Robin Harrison and Ed Birkin are talking Groupe Partouche in the wake of their third quarter results, and the Georgian gambling market.
Groupe Partouche benefits from new casino launchesThe third quarter results showed Groupe Partouche benefiting from a bigger casino portfolio, with a new venue in Cannes and one further afield in Benin contributing to a 5.3% year-on-year rise in revenue.
That prompts the question: Can French operators leverage shared language to expand into Francophone Africa, much like we are seeing Spanish gaming businesses do in Latin America?
And talk of France means talk of iCasino is never far away. Groupe Partouche, with operations in Belgium and Switzerland, could be building up its capabilities. Depending on whether there is any regulatory progress and if it can leverage its land-based database, could it carve out share in France’s future online gaming market?
The Georgian gambling marketWe’re talking the country not the state, but interestingly gambling in Georgia accounts for 3.5% of GDP. That’s the highest level of any country H2 Gambling Capital tracks, Ed points out.
And while attractions such as “Black Sea Vegas” Batumi are designed to bring in the players, online is the real story in Georgia, making up the vast majority of revenue.
Georgian gambling is also dominated by major industry players, with Crystalbet (Entain) and Adjarabet (Flutter) battling for supremacy. However it’s local operator Crocobet growing rapidly.
All this and the usual diversions into the sublime and the ridiculous in the latest Right to the Source!
Chapters(00:00:14) - Right to The Source(00:01:56) - Wagering data for Sheffield Wednesday and the Jags(00:06:16) - Wonders of the Week(00:09:06) - French operators in francophone Africa(00:11:37) - France: Slot and table games(00:19:15) - "I Don't Like Being Watched"(00:19:43) - What Sort Of Job Would You Wear Dungarees?(00:21:58) - Georgia and the size of the gambling market(00:28:03) - Voting age raised to 16 in the UK(00:33:00) - Gambling and the UK election(00:34:54) - Mauritius vs Congo(00:35:59) - Right to the Source - Show more
